ADAPTATION FOR THE INDIVIDUAL I07 



as the animal itself is concerned, but it is a preserving 

 stupidity, and many animals have it. 



The "J^i^^ Bug" (which is not a bug, but a beetle, 

 and arrives in May) has this interesting habit of keep- 

 ing quiet. If in its flight it strikes the globe of an 

 electric light, it falls at once to the ground, and re- 

 mains perfectly quiet for a time. After a short inter- 

 val it recovers and starts out to regain its previous ac- 

 tivity. But this recovery is by slow stages, and the 

 whole procedure on its part looks exceedingly stupid. 



The little snake with flattened and expanded head, 

 known as the blowing viper, or puff adder, is one of 

 the most amusing representatives of the tendency to 

 "play dead" that could well be found. If you strike 

 him the faintest blow with the lightest stick, he at 

 once goes into apparent convulsions, in which he 

 seems to suffer the greatest agony. Then, throwing 

 himself upon his back, he, to all appearances, yields 

 up the ghost. If, however, you retire but a slight dis- 

 tance and keep your eye upon him, you find that his 

 ghost returns after a comparatively short absence, and 

 he slinks away out of danger. This is the most effec- 

 tive exhibition of this kind with which I am ac- 

 quainted. 



As for the habit of "playing 'possum" on the part 

 of our opossum, the trick would seem to be particu- 

 larly inane. The truth of the matter is, what is at- 



